Based on Brian Selznick's novel, the story revolves around an orphan boy, Hugo, who lives alone in the Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris during the 1930. The one thing that keeps him connected to his late father is an automaton that only works with a special key. While Hugo embarks on his adventure to look for this special key, he uncovers many other secrets and memories that reveal a surprising connection to his father and the automaton.